SKN Spared, TS Erika Devastates Dominica LK Hewlett Story Updated: August 28th 2015 at 3:45 pm
Tropical Storm Erika passed St. Kitts and Nevis without incident Thursday night ( Aug 27 ), but not before rains from the storm caused widespread flooding and loss of life in Dominica that morning. Kittitians and Nevisians watched the approach of TS Erika with minimal trepidation after Hurricane Danny dissipated without so much as heavy rains on Monday . Government offices were closed Thursday , just as almost all the surrounding islands under Tropical Storm Watches and Warnings for TS Erika. Several businesses on St. Kitts, namely fast food establishments and at least one supermarket, opted to open but almost all were closed by late afternoon when the wind intensity increased and rain started. The Met Office advised the populace to remain indoors and monitor the storm’s development. Soon pictures and videos from Dominica made the rounds over the Internet showing major flood damage to the airport, roads, and homes. Government officials from the Nature Isle confirmed at least 6 deaths and reports of persons missing. Videos showed buildings crumbling from landslides into the flood waters, vehicles being washed away, and some vehicles struggling through high waters on streets. Relatives living in other countries took to social media lamenting the fact that due to a virtual cutoff of communication in some parts, they could not reach their families in Dominica. The Observer spoke with one resident there who said she was almost at a loss for words at the level of destruction. “We were not prepared for this type of impact. It was not even a hurricane. I still cannot believe what I’m seeing; Dominica mash up,” she bemoaned. “People laughed after [Hurricane] Danny, now look we crying.” TS Erika passed St. Kitts and Nevis Thursday evening with 45 mph winds, moving westward at 12 miles per hour. The Tropical Storm warning was lifted for the Federation and the rest of Leeward Islands Thursday evening, however countries further north including St. Maarten, Saba, Statia, Puerto Rico, USVI, BVI remain under warning. Some islands in the Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, and part of the Dominican Republic are under Tropical Storm watches.
